My view on the subject as a whole, not an answer to the questions posed.

I see BDSM and feminism as something entwined. The basic idea behind feminism as I've always seen it, is that women are equal to men and are free to make their own choices. The apparant paradox with a female submissive is quite obvious: how is she equal as a slave and how is she free if she has to obey (a man)?

What turns it all 'round is the fact that submissives make the choice to submit. I don't think anyone here would argue one person having a born right to rule someone else: it's all consensual. And if someone dreams of submitting, why should he/she not be allowed to? Feminists have worked hard to give women freedom to choose.

The only thing which does bug me is that some feminists clearly do not respect the choice of submissive women and think they should be protected from doing the wrong thing. This to me is an ultimate insult to both the submissives and the ideals of feminism.

And no, I never really considered myself a feminist.